Group 1 Saudi Cup to kick off Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 featuring stakes from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park

by Keith McCalmont

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring stakes action from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park and King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

The sequence kicks off with the Group 1 Saudi Cup [Race 8, 12:40 p.m.], the world's richest race with a $20 million purse from Kingabdulaziz Racetrack. The nine-furlong test boasting 14 horses is headlined by defending champion Mishriff and includes an international field of contenders led by multiple Grade 1-winner Mandaloun, who was recently elevated to victory in the 2021 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit.

Live coverage of the lucrative Saudi Cup card will air Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern on FS2. For more info, visit this link.

Action switches to Aqueduct for the second leg [Race 7, 3:57 p.m.] as a field of 13 older horses travel a one-turn mile in a loaded allowance optional-claimer featuring the seasonal debut of last year’s Grade 3 Withers-winner Risk Taking. Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, the 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro bay is 2-for-3 at the Big A and will be reunited with Withers-winning pilot Eric Cancel. Brown will also send out the improving Sound Money, a 4-year-old Flatter colt, who has won two of his last three starts led by a last-out allowance romp that garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. A salty group of rivals includes graded stakes-placed Too Boss; and multiple stakes winner Captain Bombastic.

The middle leg will see a field of seven square off in the $125,000 Stymie [Race 8, 4:30 p.m.], a one-turn mile for older horses at the Big A led by graded-stakes winner Green Light Go. Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the 5-year-old Stronach Stables homebred enters from a nine-length score in a one-turn mile optional claimer that registered a career-best 101 Beyer. Steep opposition will be provided by the improving Waxman, who makes his stakes debut for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher out of a nine-furlong allowance score at the Big A.

The sequence will be completed by a pair of races at Oaklawn Park, starting with an allowance mile [Race 9, 5:18 p.m.] featuring 12 older horses. The field will be led by four-time winner Palace Coup, who will cut back slightly after finishing a pace-setting second last out in an Oaklawn allowance. A wide-open group of contenders includes recent allowance winner Prioritization, the well-bred Calibrate and ultra-consistent Pats Property, who boasts a record of 5-2-2-0.

Closing out the sequence is the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel [Race 11, 6:22 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. The talented field features the top-five finishers from last month’s Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn led by the undefeated Newgrange and the late-rallying runner-up Barber Road. Newcomers include one-eyed Grade 3 Withers runner-up Un Ojo; Saratoga maiden winner Stellar Tap; and Cairama, a $525,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, which features a low 15 percent takeout, will continue each Saturday throughout the year.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, February 26:

Leg A: King Abdulaziz Racetrack - Race 8, G1 Saudi Cup (12:40 p.m.)

Leg B: Aqueduct Racetrack - Race 7, allowance (3:57 p.m.)

Leg C: Aqueduct Racetrack - Race 8, $125K Stymie (4:30 p.m.)

Leg D: Oaklawn Park - Race 9, allowance (5:18 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn Park - Race 11, G2 Rebel (6:22 p.m.)